Joleon Lescott at Goodison Park with David Moyes after signing for Everton in 2006

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Lescott explained: "I'd never moved, so I didn't know what to expect. When I went there, it was daunting to be fair.

"The first few weeks was hard, pre-season was hard. The furthest I'd been on pre-season was Ireland, we were going to America! Obviously the lads didn't know me, I wasn't an open guy in terms of going to speak to anyone, I am quite reserved.

"What made me realise that I kind of wasn't recognised, Mikel [Arteta] and Joseph Yobo actually asked me what position I played, they didn't even know what position I was!

"It's not a big thing, but it's quite daunting."

Lescott made 42 appearances in all competitions in his first term with Everton, and was voted the Players' Player of the Season at the end of the campaign.

His influence on the side grew stronger and stronger over the next few years as he became a constant presence in the starting lineup.

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He remarked: "It was hard because I'd come to Everton when they were on the cusp of potentially doing something good, but I just felt the opportunity to be as successful as we all want to be was going to be with Man City.

"I just felt their ambition and the time-frame of their ambition matched the time I had left as a player in my peak. To do it at Everton would have been great obviously, but the time-frame they were looking to work on just wouldn't have married what I had left.

"I was 27, I probably had four or five years left at that level in terms of peak, and I knew City were trying to achieve something in that time. With the greatest respect to Everton, they were hoping to achieve something, whereas City were aiming to achieve something.

"The decision wasn't as hard as you'd think, but the way it happened wasn't great. I'd have liked to have left a little bit cleaner than it appeared to be.

"But when it's all said and done everyone recognises why I made that choice and I don't think anyone has any regrets with the outcome."